Prevalence of transfusion reactions in a level IV institution in the city of Barranquilla

Abstract

Introduction: a blood transfusion is a therapeutic procedure that involves the administration of blood or its derivatives, in order to correct hematological disorders, restore hemodynamic balance or improve tissue oxygenation. It is carried out under strict protocols in order to minimize the risks of adverse transfusion reactions, considered as an unwanted and unexpected response associated with blood transfusion. Methods: descriptive study of 13,925 patients in which 67 people presented a transfusion reaction between the years 2020 to 2022. A secondary source of information was used from which the demographic and clinical variables and patients reported with transfusion reactions were taken. The information was analyzed with absolute and relative frequencies and their 95% confidence interval. Results: during 2020-2022, 67 adverse reactions related to the transfusion of 53,418 blood components were reported. Allergic reactions were the most common 85.07% (95% CI 74.26-92.60). Regarding the severity of the reaction, most people had a mild reaction 63.64% (2020), 81.50% (2021), 79.30% (2022). The prevalence for the female sex was higher 63.64%, 59.3% and 62.1% and for the age of people between 18 to 59 years old 54.55%, 44.44% and 37.9% respectively. Conclusion: blood transfusion plays a crucial role in various clinical contexts. Worldwide, adverse events affect between 1% and 3% of transfused patients. In Colombia, they affect 0.12%, the same as in this study where 0.12% presented an adverse transfusion reaction. This shows an under-registration at the national level, raising questions about their quality and timeliness.